Former unified junior middleweight titlist Canelo Alvarez faces middleweight champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday in another chapter of the great rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) will square off against Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas (HBO PPV, 9 p.m ET).
Will the 10-year age advantage and punching power be enough to allow Alvarez to beat his veteran opponent? To win this fight, the Mexican will need to take into account the following keys: 1. Pick your spots early
Against opponents who exchange punches and come forward, Alvarez tends to work comfortably until managing to score an early stoppage. However, he finds it more difficult against mobile opponents. Cotto will move laterally or punch on the retreat, something he does very well. To win early, Alvarez will need to be very effective and choose the right moment to unleash his heavy artillery. Alavarez doesn’t have great speed, but when he connects, he knocks his opponents out. 2. The rhythm of the night
Alvarez usually takes time to get going. In 2010, when he faced Jose Miguel Cotto, the older brother of Miguel, this initial lethargy saw him take a huge punch that almost knocked him out in the first round. Alvarez will need to take this weakness into account and find an answer early. How? By imposing his attitude from the first moment of the fight and maintaining control of the ring — and the rhythm of the fight — throughout. 3. Cut off the ring
It’s easy to say, but it’s never easy to achieve. For Alvarez, the top priority is to cut off the ring and to cut it off well. If he manages to trap Cotto in the corner or against the ropes, he’ll be in a great position to overpower him with punches in close quarters. Whether those punches are shots to the body or directly to the chin, this strategy holds the key to victory. 4. Rely on youth
Cotto is experienced, but Alvarez has youth on his side and he needs to use it. In the buildup to the fight, the assumption is that Alvarez will go on the offensive while Cotto be more defensive. The 10-year age gap will enable Alvarez to take that equation to the extreme. How? By keeping his foot on the gas and maintaining constant pressure. Fatigue could become a factor for Cotto in the later rounds and that will offer Alvarez another opportunity to look for the knockout. 5. Have a Plan B
There has been some question as to whether Alvarez could use an upgrade in his corner. It seems that his trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has nothing new to bring to the table and Alvarez has become too predictable as a result. That’s why this time he will need to add a Plan B to his fight strategy in order to counter whatever Cotto trainer Freddie Roach will come up with. The fight could be a very tactical one. Alvarez should not rely just on his power shots, he should also look to win rounds by using an intelligent game plan.
